Combined lamp and acetylene-generator



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

L. D. WHITTEMORE, Jr. COMBINED LAMP AND AOETYLENE GENERATOR.

Patented Dec. 7

INVENTOR (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. D. WHITTEMORE, Jr.

COMBINED LAMP AND AOETYLENE GENERATOR.

No. 595,230. Patented Dec. 7,1897.

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UNTTnn STaTns PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS D. NIIITTEMORE, JR., OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

COMBINED LAMP AND ACETY'LENE GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,230, dated December 7, 1897.

Application filed January 8, 1 897.

To all 1072,0722, it may concern.-

3e it known that 1, Louis D. Wrnrrnnonn, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Lamp and Generator; and I do hereby declare the followin g to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable oth ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to portable gas-burning lamps, and has for its object the production of a combined burner and gas-generator which is light and compact, automatic in its generation of gas, and easily cared for by the user.

The generator is particularly designed for the manufacture of acetylene gas, and the device as a whole is particularly designed for use as a bicycle-lamp, although the invention is not confined to such specific use.

The invention consists in the construct-ion and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the lamp and generator complete, but omitting any special bracket or other supporting attachments. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a section on the line a at in Fig. 3, looking downward.

Similar reference-characters indicate similar features of construction throughout the several views.

The casing of the generator is indicated at A, above which the water-reservoir B is supported and to the front of which is connected the reflector C, having a lens D, which may be removed to light the burner.

The outer cylindrical shell of the generator has a removable lower end piece 1 and an upper removable cap 2, which supports the inner shell 3 and also the water-receptacle B. The end piece 1 and cap 2 are preferably screw-threaded to the ends of the outer shell,

so they may be readily removed for cleaning the parts and when the generator is to be charged. The inner shell 3 is concentric with the outer shell and is provided with openings near its upper end and with a removable Serial No. 618,451. (No model.)

bottom 5, which supports a plurality of partitions or trays 6, preferably perforated, for the support of the gas-producing material. These partitions or trays are arranged one above another for the purpose presently described, and for the purpose of producing acetylene gas I cover said partitions with'layers of calcium carbid.

The main body of the water-reservoir is elevated to a sufficient height to obtain the pressure necessary to overcome a very slight pres sure of gas in the generator, but I provide means to automatically cut off the supply of water when the gas-pressure exceeds the desired limit or when the use of the gas ceases, and in the embodiment ofmy invention as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings I employ for this purpose a valve which is closed against the action of a spring by excessive gas-pressure.

The lower portion 7 of the reservoir, which extends down into the generator nearly to the upper tray 6, is contracted and thereby affords more space for the accumulation of gas. \Vithin this contracted portion or tube 7 is a rod 8, the upper end of which is connected to a tube 9, that extends above the reservoir and is provided with a head 10, having cam surfaces or lugs 11 on its sides. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) A circular flange 12 on the reservoir receives the head 10 and is provided with notches to receive the lugs 11. The tube-9 is provided with openings 13, whereby water poured into the tube may pass into the res ervoir, and said tube is closed by a plug 14, having a vent-passage 15.

Near the lower end of the tube 7 is a contracted opening forming a shoulder 16, and to the lower end of said tube is connected a valve-chamber 17. The rod 8 extends into said chamber and is provided with a head 18, against which a valve 19 is pressed by a spring 20, the upper end of which bears against the shoulder 16. The valve is free to slide on said rod and to seat against the lower end of the passage from tube 7 when the pressure of gas is sufficient to lift the valve, and when the gas-pressure is below the normal the valve will be opened by spring 20 to admit more liquid to the generator. The

chamber 17 is provided with an outlet-pipe 21, terminating in a vertical tube 22, which is preferably filled with a suitable packing, such as cotton or leather fiber, which will permit the liquid to flow and yet prevent particles of carbid or other gas-producing material from interfering with the action of the valve. This packing also prevents the liquid from being discharged too rapidly if the lamp is suddenly moved or joltedybut it is to be understood that in practice the packing used is sufficiently loose to permit the gas to pass through it. When it is desired to positively shut off the flow of liquid, the head 10 is turned so as to permit the lugs 11 to pass into the notches of the flange 12, and thus lower the rod 8, so that the valve 19 seats on the bottom of the chamber 17 and closes the pipe 21. If now there should be a generation of gas continuing, the valve will lift, so that gas can escape through the reservoir.

In the lower portion of the reflector-shell is a burner-tube 23, the upper end of which is enlarged to form a gas heating and drying chamber, the perforated burner-plate 24 extending across the enlarged portion below its upper edge to form a slight wall around the burner-plate. The lower end of the burnertube is connected with the annular gas-chamber by a pipe 25, having a gas-cock 26. The inner end of the pipe 25 is preferably filled with a suitable packing to prevent its being stopped up by any gas-producing material that might possibly get through the openings 4:- Above the burner is a suitable ventilating tube and hood 27.

In the use of my improved lamp the reservoir is filled, in the manner above described, with water or other suitable liquid, and the partitions or trays 6 are supplied with layers of carbid or other suit-able gas-producing m aterial. The head 10 is turned to raise the rod 8, and liquid then flows onto the partitions until the resulting gas attains such pressure as to seat the valve upwardly against the action of spring 20. If the consumption of gas at the burner is such as to prevent an excess of pressure in the generator, the valve remains open, and if the user extinguishes the light for any length of time he may turn the head 10 so as to lower the rod 8 and permit the valve to move downward and close the pipe 21.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the lower end of the plug or stopper 14 is tapered and that the vent 15 opens at the apex or point of the stopper. This prevents the escape of liquid through said vent if the lamp is subjected to motion that would ordinarily cause liquid to be thrown out. The fact also that the stoppered opening communicates with a relativelysmall perforated tube aids in preventing liquid from slopping out through the vent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with a gas-generator having a removable top and bottom, of a water-tank having a contracted portion extending down into the gas-generator and having means at its out-let end to prevent its being clogged by the gas-producing material, said contracted portion having also a valve adapted when in one position to stop the flow of water during the escape of excess of gas and when in another position to admit water to the said gas-chamber.

2. A lamp comprising in its construction a chamber for containing gas-producing ma terial, an elevated liquid-reservoir, a single double-acting valve for controlling the flow of liquid into said chamber, said Valve being adapted when in one position to permit the escape of an excess of gas when the flow of water is shut off, and when in another position to prevent the inflow of liquid by the pressure of the gas, and a burner connected with the chamber.

3. The combination with a gas-generating chamber, of a liquid-tank having an opening within said chamber, a valve-chamber below said opening and having an outlet, and a single double-acting valve adapted to close the passage to or from said valve-chamber.

4. The combination with a gas-generating chamber, of a liquid-tank having an opening within said chamber, said opening being provided with a casin g and a double-acting valve therein and an outlet-pipe from the valvecasing having a filling or packing adapted to permit the passage of water and to prevent the clogging of said opening or valve.

5. The combination with the generator-casing having the removable bottom 1 and removable cap 2, of the inner shell 3 having a removable bottom 5 to facilitate cleaning the interior of the casing and shell.

6. The combination with the generator-casing having the removable bottom 1 and removable cap 2, of the inner shell 3 having a removable bottom 5, and a plurality of partitions 6 carried by said bottom 5.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS D. WHITTEMORE, JR.

\Vitnesses:

R. O. LEWIS, A. M. WoosTER. 

